Tumwater City Council authorized Mayor Debbie Sullivan on Tuesday, July 16 to accept $5 million from the state for the continuation of the Deschutes Valley Trail Connection project.
With the council’s approval, Sullivan will sign a project prospectus from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
According to the city website, the project seeks to connect Historical Park and Pioneer Park via a two-mile walking path while also providing path connections to Deschutes Valley Park, Palermo Pocket Park, and Tumwater Falls Park. The trail will also provide access to the golf course and the Deschutes River.
The northern segment was completed two years ago, so the funding will be used to continue the trail.
Assistant Transportation and Engineering Director Mary Heather Ames said the $5.8 million funding will be for the remaining northern segment and the southwestern part of the trail.
The fund will cover permitting, design, and construction. One million dollars will be allocated for permitting and design and released within the current state biennium, which ends next year.
The rest of the funds will be used for construction and released in the 2025 to 2027 biennium. The next tranche will require $2 million in matching funds from the city.
Ames said they will also seek federal funding through the Thurston Reginal Planning Council for the trail segment from The Valley Athletic Club to the southwest segment.
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TomBoucher
Excellent!
Thursday, July 18 Report this
Duffish
Public trails are great, but the City has essentially cut off all fishing opportunities along the Deschutes River that runs through the golf course. When the golf course was constructed in 1970, the area was envisioned as a multi-use recreational area by the builders and the Washington Dept. of Game. I, and many of my colleagues fly fished this stretch for many years, catching small trout and releasing the fish. I personally was involved in planting riparian vegetation along the river to enhance the habitat.
Unfortunately, now, since the City owns the property we cannot fish this stretch. We used to park at the Valley parking lot, don our waders and make our way along the edge of the course, dipping down to fish different holes and riffles. Now, it is not allowed, since it seems to be an insurance issue. The river is a multi-use recreational area and publicly owned. The City should have some way for us fly fishers to sign a waiver and fish our old haunts. We do not trod the greens and always have walked along the edge of the treeline looking for river access points.
Thursday, July 18 Report this
Dmathis
Awesome news! Congratulations to the city of Tumwater! With this news they can work on getting the Henderson Bridge over the Deschutes widened to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
Thursday, July 18 Report this
GinnyAnn
It's about time! Walking the lovely Tumwater Falls Park has always ended short. There's no reason why the trail shouldn't continue on through all the way. This park is the first place I take visitors from out of town to show them how beautiful our area is in a short walk. I think going further would make the trail that much more of a wonderful experience for all of us.
Thursday, July 18 Report this
jimlazar
This funding is great news.
But the source it comes from is at risk. The WSDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Program, from which this grant was received, is dependent on funding from the Washington Climate Commitment Act. Initiative 2117, on the November ballot, would repeal the Climate Commitment Act. We must DEFEAT I-2117.
There are numerous projects in Thurston County being funded with Climate Commitment Act funds, including the Nisqually Microgrid, several fish passage projects, Intercity Transit's new fuel cell buses and the IT maintenance facility, more than 40 EV charging stations, and many other projects.
Tell your friends and neighbors to protect funding for local environmental, walking, pedestrian, transit, and energy efficiency programs by OPPOSING Initiative 2117.
You can read the full "risk of repeal" project list at:
https://riskofrepeal.cleanprosperousinstitute.org/
Friday, July 19 Report this